Charlie Brooker blew our minds when he created the dark dystopian sci-fi Black Mirror. The hit series debuted in 2011 and gave a bleak, albeit probable, perspective of a world where advanced technology like artificial intelligence and virtual reality is everywhere. The fifth season aired in June 2019 and starred Miley Cyrus, Anthony Mackie, Topher Grace, and more. But this year, instead of confirming the much-awaited sixth season of the show, Brooker announced that he is about to create a mockumentary about 2020. Here’s what we know so far.
Brooker drops a teaser
— Charlie Brooker (@charltonbrooker) December 3, 2020
And as far as teasers go, this one definitely whets the appetite. The 10-second video did not reveal much at all. “Even the creators of Black Mirror couldn’t make this year up. But they do have something to add,” read the text. The title, Death to 2020 is shown in the last few seconds.
Hugh Grant will be in it
If you’re wondering who Booker would tap for Death to 2020, you can be sure Hugh Grant is in it. Grant spilled the beans and told Vulture that he would be playing a historian for the mockumentary. “I am a historian who’s being interviewed about the year. I’m pretty repellent, actually! And you’ll like my wig,” he said.
When is the release date?
Although there is no news yet about Death to 2020’s release date, The Independent confirms that filming begins this week.
How about the Season 6 of Black Mirror?
Black mirror outdid themselves this season they made us experience season 6 and not watch it on Netflix
— Lemar (@Atksufi) June 2, 2020
After Black Mirror’s fifth season aired with fewer episodes than the previous ones, fans have been anticipating the sixth season. But it looks like it’s not coming to our screens any time soon. Back in May 2020, Brooker said in an interview that the world is too bleak right now for stories about society’s downfall. Which basically means we’re too depressed to watch depressing episodes.
“At the moment, I don’t know what stomach there would be for stories about societies falling apart, so I’m not working away on one of those [Black Mirror episodes],” he told Radio Times.
Black Mirror. Season 6 pic.twitter.com/v2sZiqFAPZ
— Faisal Almalki (@faisalalmalki) June 2, 2020
A few weeks later, a photoshopped Black Mirror mock advertisement popped up in Madrid. It was a simple literal mirror with the words “6th Season. Live Now, everywhere.” However, disappointingly, Netflix has no involvement with the clever ad.
Brooker’s annual Wipe
Charlie Brooker’s Antiviral Wipe
Ahhh Charlie Brookers screenwipe on BBC2 . Finally someone who speaks with the cynicism and rage I feel every day. #AntiviralWipe
— Paul Ryan (@pjryan51) May 14, 2020
And the winner of Lockdown-made telly is… #AntiviralWipe. 45 minutes of perfect TV. 👏🏼 @charltonbrooker
— Elliot Gonzalez (@elliot_gonzalez) May 14, 2020
For 2020, he told Radio Times that instead of working on Season 6 of Black Mirror, he will “revisit [his] comic skill set, so [he’s] been writing scripts aimed at making [himself] laugh.”
Four years after his BAFTA-winning 2016 Wipe, Brooker returns for a one-off comedy special entitled Charlie Brooker’s Antiviral Wipe. The 45-minute special took a swipe at Britain’s handling of the pandemic and how the rest of U.K. is dealing with it.
But if you want more mockumentaries…
Streaming giant Netflix has a bunch of those. Trailer Park Boys will be right up your alley if you enjoy comedy mockumentaries/sitcoms like The Office (sadly, that one’s not on Netflix Philippines). The series follows the booze-fueled adventures of three small-time crooks that run scams from their Nova Scotia trailer park. There’s also the 2017 mockumentary American Vandal, a two-season series running on a silly premise (who drew the genitals on those cars?!) but taken extra seriously. And last but not least, the 2006 British-American comedy mockumentary Borat which follows a fictitious Kazakhstani journalist (Sacha Baron Cohen) as he documents his real-life interactions with Americans.
In the meantime, you can watch the previous Black Mirror seasons
While waiting for Brooker to finish Death to 2020, revisit Black Mirror here. If you haven’t watched it already – why haven’t you?! – we suggest you do so mentally prepare for the psychological roller coaster you’re about to experience.
Do you have a favorite Black Mirror episode?
